Karnataka BJP MP Sreeramulu contesting assembly polls
Bengaluru, April 21: BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka's Ballari, B. Sreeramulu on Saturday filed his nomination papers to contest the May 12 assembly elections from Molakamuru seat in Chitradurga district.
Sreeramulu, 47, was the Health and Family Welfare and Tourism Minister from 2008-2011 in the state's first Bharatiya Janata Party government, but stepped down from the post and resigned from the party to protesting the alleged ill-treatment by the party to then cabinet minister and Ballari mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy.
He had rejoined and contested the Lok Sabha election in 2014 as a BJP candidate from the rich mining district of Ballari.
Sreeramulu is also one of the two MPs among the candidates announced so far by the BJP to contest the assembly elections, with the other being party's Chief Ministerial candidate B.S.Yeddyurappa, who is MP from Shivamogga.
As per his poll affidavit, Sreeramulu declared his income and assets, as well of his wife Bhagyalakshmi, to be valued at Rs 18.17 crore,
He has disclosed cash and bank deposits valued at over Rs 4.5 crore and other immovable assets including property and buildings worth over Rs 12 crore.
Till Friday, the BJP has announced 213 candidates to contest the 224-member Karnataka assembly polls. The party had, in its second list of 82 candidates released on April 16, fielded G. Somashekar Reddy, younger brother of Janardhan Reddy, from Ballari City segment.
The third list released on Friday had included Karunakar Reddy, another of Reddy's brothers, from Harapanahalli in Ballari.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
VHP warns of statewide stir in Karnataka against move to ease cattle transport law
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a proposed amendment to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, accusing the state government of weakening a law that has deterred illegal cattle transport.
The organisation's Go Raksha Wing, Karnataka South, has also announced district-level protests on December 8.
According to officials, the existing law mandates a bank guarantee for securing the release of vehicles seized for alleged illegal cattle transportation.
On December 4, the state Cabinet proposed an amendment enabling the release of such vehicles on an indemnity bond instead.
Addressing reporters in Udupi, VHP leader and Prantha Goraksha Pramukh Sunil K R, said the government's move amounted to "sympathy for cattle lifters" and claimed that it was part of broader actions "targeting Hindus".
He argued that the law in its current form is stringent and has played a crucial role in reducing incidents of illegal cattle transport and theft.
Under the Act, vehicles involved in offences can be surrendered and, upon conviction, permanently seized by authorities. "Diluting these provisions will embolden offenders," Sunil said.
The VHP leader warned that easing the process of vehicle release would not only encourage violators but also result in rising cruelty against cattle.
Sunil further claimed that the strict enforcement of the 2020 law had brought down cases of cattle-related offences significantly. Rolling back these provisions, he said, could reverse those gains and would lead to an increase in illegal transport.
He reiterated that the government must reconsider its decision and preserve the integrity of the existing law.
